Qantas Frequent Flyer - QF 107 Upgrade availability

Hi,

Can anyone advise the availability of upgrades to J on QF 107 SYD -JFK on 13/11/2009?

I'm WP, and requested the upgrade for 2 pax 90 days out, but it appears there are only 6 J seats. I don't know that the upgrade codes are.

Also, given that QF have been calling people prior to the flights to burn cash or points, could one expect that they will make all empty J seats available?

On the return I have been able to select J seats, despite having paid Y+, but don't have this option on the flight over.

Thanks in advance.

The flight looks pretty full with just 2 D class seats available but of course C9 J9. Nothing in terms of award inventory. You can still hope that QF makes some available, I would keep calling. In the past, they have given me seats when there was still D class available.

Why would D read 2 to LAX and 0 to JFK if they don't award upgrades until T-24 or 3-5 days max? Does D perhaps reflect award bookings in J made in advance, as opposed as requested upgrade requests?

The flight is almost at capacity (on SYD-LAX) in J. Furthermore, booking codes D, I, and U are actually in negative inventory right now (for SYD-JFK). I won't explain the concept, but basically that means if any cancellations occur that the negative balance has to be offset back to ZERO before more seats in a certain code are loaded to the positive side. Think of it like an inventory pendulum of sorts, so unfortunately your odds of getting any upgrade space are very slim.

In case you haven't figured it out already, this is one of the 4 busy weeks of the year on this route SYD-JFK. Very predictable peak. Travel the week before or after if you have a choice of dates.

If J has 6 seats, would Qantas offer these for upgrades in the last 24 hour period?

Why would D read 2 to LAX and 0 to JFK if they don't award upgrades until T-24 or 3-5 days max? Does D perhaps reflect award bookings in J made in advance, as opposed as requested upgrade requests?

D has nothing to do with award inventory, it is a standard discounted business bucket. RTW tickets book in to this fare for example. Usually I and D sell out first with the higher priced business tickets in C and J going later so it is an indication how full the flight is.

The flight is almost at capacity (on SYD-LAX) in J. Furthermore, booking codes D, I, and U are actually in negative inventory right now (for SYD-JFK). I won't explain the concept, but basically that means if any cancellations occur that the negative balance has to be offset back to ZERO before more seats in a certain code are loaded to the positive side. Think of it like an inventory pendulum of sorts, so unfortunately your odds of getting any upgrade space are very slim.

The flight is no where near capacity at the moment in any class. For the bit to LAX there even is D still available. Still the chances for an upgrade are not high.

[KVS Availability Tool 5.1.2/Platinum - Sabre: Availability/GTC/US-CRPD1] (http://www.KVSTool.com/?R)
SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith NS AU [YSSY]
LAX Los Angeles Int'l CA US [KLAX]
FRI 13 Nov 2009

Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability
--------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- -----------------------------------------------------------
QF 107 SYD 11:50 LAX 06:15 744 0 F3 A2 P0 J9 C9 D2 I0 U0 W9 T9 Z0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N8

[KVS Availability Tool 5.1.2/Platinum - Sabre: Availability/GTC/US-CRPD1] (http://www.KVSTool.com/?R)
SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith NS AU [YSSY]
JFK New York John F Kennedy Int'l NY US [KJFK]
FRI 13 Nov 2009

Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability
--------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- -----------------------------------------------------------
QF 107 SYD 11:50 JFK 16:50 744 1 F4 A3 P0 J6 C6 D0 I0 U0 W9 T9 Z0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9

If I saw C6 J6 D0 I0 at 3 weeks out from the flight, I'd think chances of an upgrade to get into Business would be somewhat slim - especially since QF will often fly with empty Biz seats.
In any case, WHY looks wide open - especially since the cheap seats are available in abundance.

Just spoke to a premium rep who said that the discount business fares are sold out, but there are 6 empty seats in J. I asked what the actual procedure for upgrades is, and she said internationally they are now offering all empty seats for either upgrade requests or "proactive upgrades," i.e. the burning of cash or points with a phone call 2 days prior.

She stated that any weight distribution issues are generally sorted in Y. She also advised that full J class passengers often change dates last minute.

As always, will simply wait and see.

Can anyone with a KVS subscription advise if any of the back J class cabin on this aircraft now is part of the Y+ zone? I don't think it has given that on then seat selection I can only see rows 34-39.

Thanks in advance.

duplicated - please move along to next post

What's the seating row configuration? 2x4x2 or 2x3x2?

The latter indicates Skybeds.

All in the Y+ I can access as WP are 2 x 4 x 2. The return flight from LAX has 2 x 3 2 in rows 29 and 30 which I have already pre-selected.

In case you haven't figured it out already, this is one of the 4 busy weeks of the year on this route SYD-JFK. Very predictable peak.

Why? Thanksgiving's not for another two weeks, and there are no Aussie holidays I know of. Is it school holidays down under or something? Why's it a predictable peak?

The figures are changing almost hourly, at this morning there were J4 and C 4 now J 1 and C1. Interestingly F and A have increased.

A friend who is in QF management advised that the numbers can and do change until the day before. Here's hoping that either some people cancel, or they upgrade J passengers to F freeing up some of the J class cabin.

So my flight is now showing J1 and C1 with D0 and I0. In anyone's experience, if it is only 2 seats, is QF likely to release them for upgrade, or more likely to keep them for any of the oversold D or I passengers?

J1 and C1 are probably offering the same seat. Or more likely, J is already full and they'd op-up someone to F if someone bought the C or J fare

Generally D is made available before upgrades (though this varies by route), so if it stays at D0 then upgrade chances are considerably lower. I've been seeing plentiful D (and A) availability for the past year for my flights, so D0 is a bad sign.

I know. It seems to be the one flight during that week that has a full J cabin. I'll work with 1 spare seat. I imagine reserved, but not paid for, C and J seats will be released 48 hours prior.

You imagine incorrectly. Seats are released when yield management projects lack of sale potential. If day before/after is empty and this flight is full, the algorithm will deduce that some factor is making this flight unusually attractive, thus more likely to sell J than usual. I bet QF will keep J1 until flight departure and at best upgrade at the gate, counting on a last-minute sell. Also as mentioned before, most likely J1 (as opposed to J2) means that every J seat is already sold, and they are using upgrades to F to free J inventory for sale. In which case there is no seat to upgrade into from Y :)

Your best bet would be to change your trip date by a day :)

So my flight is now showing J1 and C1 with D0 and I0. In anyone's experience, if it is only 2 seats, is QF likely to release them for upgrade, or more likely to keep them for any of the oversold D or I passengers?

With this situation you can almost be sure that there is no unsold seat in J and QF is overselling. There 2 seats you think you see are not there in reality.

Eeek. Oh well, Y+ is better than Y. Any idea what the op-up possibility is LAX-JFK? I think J is mostly busy to LAX, but am unsure whether op-ups occur on the 2nd leg.

I tend not to hope for op-ups though... always leads to disappointment.

Does C2 J2, indicate a glimmer of hope?